Here you will find an awesome list, moving from the bottom of Rocklahoma's lineup to the top, featuring reviews and highlights for each band. You'll find out who is the "next big thing" and which small bands are must-sees.

Delta Rose

By Dan Adler

I read about Delta Rose recently and then realized they were playing at the Troubadour that very night. Of course I needed to go see my brother play in Simi Valley, and then go visit my mom for dinner, but I had hoped to get out and on the road quickly enough to enjoy this Los Angeles based band before seeing them in Oklahoma. I guess it was not to be. I do prefer live music to most activities, but the pozole I had at Dos Arbolitos in Sepulveda, California, was probably good enough solace for missing a band whose music I REALLY LIKE! Delta Rose has an addicting sound combining heavy blues with traditional rock and roll. The music is such that one is convinced that the “Delta Rose” name comes from the bayou of Louisiana or such. But that is not the case. Delta is the name of the street the band practiced on and Rose comes from Rosemead, the city east of Los Angeles they all came from. But I have decided to go with my first instinct because this band could easily have come from anywhere in the south and have fit in. Delta Rose has a six-song CD called Golden, which is absolutely amazing and I listened to over and over again when I first found them. The band is made up of members Spencer Krasch on vocals and guitar, Forrest Goss on guitar, Steven Aulcy on bass, and Mikey Herrera on the drums. They played dates on the Van’s Warped Tour in 2012 and are playing the Retrospect RockFest in St. George, Utah, May 8 and 9, with a whole mess of other great small bands. St. George isn’t too far, but unfortunately I work that weekend.“Chew Me Up” is the most fun song on the EP, although every song is worth listening too.

The music is super fun and addicting. “Cut You” and “One is Too Many” start out with that Delta Rose delta blues sound. Be careful, because one listen through the EP and you will have your credit card out and will be spending some money; not just to be able to listen to great music all the time but to support and encourage this fantastic up-and-coming young band that needs to come play your hometown soon.Check out their website and Facebook page.

Loveblast

By Dan Adler

“In a time when EDM and folk rock bands rule the Billboard Hot 100, the future of rock and roll most certainly seems bleak.” OK, we have all heard some form of this before somewhere, but that is the first line of the bio for Loveblast on their website. And again, while it is true, for fans headed to Pryor, Oklahoma, for the closing round of the World’s Loudest Month, there are still plenty of young bands plying the trade of good old fashioned, guitar-driven heavy metal. Chicago, Illinois, -based Loveblast is one of those bands, which is returning for their second performance at the Pryor, Oklahoma’s, Catch the Fever Concert grounds and they fit right in to the concept of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Rock and Roll.” While Loveblast is certainly not an original band, they are excellent at what they do, which is keeping alive the traditions of heavy metal. The tradition Loveblast is best at is the epic guitar solo, something sadly lacking in what you will hear on the radio today. Put on the song “Out For Blood” from Hard Liquor in Big Glasses, and you will have an epic journey from a drum-guitar intro to a great chorus finished up with a guitar solo that even while sitting on my couch leaves me exhausted.

This song gives you an overview of how Loveblast is built for an arena. While they may never get the chance to play in front of 80,000 screaming metal heads, if they ever do, they are totally built for it. Anthems, sing-along choruses and again, seriously epic solos fill their songs.They have recently release a video for “Wild Forever” which gives you a great idea of what a wild party a Loveblast live show must be like. Sitting here writing this definitely makes me want to put my hands up and put em together. When you listen you will understand, as well as witness an amazing gender change mid-song.

The title track is also a fun song, but for those of you who just love it when a guitarist is allowed to go off, put on the final track, Hungry and enjoy. These tracks give you a great idea of what you are going to get at Rocklahoma from these Chicago rockers. For lovers of traditional 80’s metal, these guys are the real deal. But better than that, Loveblast is new, fresh and talented. Their sound is cleaner than a lot of what is going on in metal today, so for those of you who just cannot wrap your head around the screaming of much of today’s music, put Loveblast on your schedule for Rocklahoma. You will not be disappointed.

Ruff Justice

By Dan AdlerHailing from Texas, Ruff Justice originally formed in 1992 and experienced a relatively short, but exciting career in music. Over their four-year existence, Ruff Justice release three recordings and were able to tour around Texas, the Midwest, and the Northern USA. After four years, Ruff Justice was no more. However, 20 years later, founding drummer Scott Baughn learned that the band was still being heavily bootlegged in Europe and Asia, and decided to assemble a group of fantastic musicians from around the Dallas area to give it another shot. Ruff Justice signed to Retrospect Records, and is recording their return-to-the-music-scene album, Propaganda, which is slated for release in mid 2015. Baughn explains that Ruff Justice is a politically and emotionally charged melodic metal band that focuses on the issues that affect us and our relationships in our daily lives. He is excited about the resurgence of Ruff Justice, and is ready to kick-start the 21st century version of Ruff Justice. According to their Facebook page, Ruff Justice will be playing twice at Rocklahoma: on Thursday in the campsites at the Jagermeister Stage, and Friday inside on the Retrospect Stage. Check out their Facebook and ReverbNation pages.

Warlock Texas

By Dan Adler

Warlock Texas. No, not from Warlock, but Arlington. Not the band Warlock. Not even a band for 28 years. But now they are back, reformed last year to relive the lives they once knew.

Warlock Texas formed the year I graduated high school. I guess that means we are the same age. They stayed together for five years, but then broke up for over a quarter of a century. Suddenly in the year 2014 they are back, and ready to take on Pryor, Oklahoma’s, Rocklahoma.The first lineup of Warlock Texas broke up, “after a wild night of partying ended up with knives drawing blood and musical instruments thrown into the lake.” Now that is one hell of a rehearsal. These are some guys that take chord change disagreements to an entirely new level. I have not even listened to the music and now I know…these are my kind of dudes, serious about their metal.As I read through the bio, I realize this is a band that partied hard, played hard, and had a short, but energetic career. It seems like a good deal of their music from their early days never got recorded, but that is about to change as they rework and modernize the early demo tapes for present day release.It was only August of last year that Warlock Texas performed their first show in 27 years, and now they are ready to head out on the road! They recently performed in San Antonio and the foursome is ready for Rocklahoma.Warlock Texas includes early members such as vocalist Jerry Warden and guitarist Rick Perry, (no, I don’t think it is the same Rick Perry; he did not leave his metal career to be governor of Texas and then return to the metal scene after a rough presidential run), along with drummer Randy Cooke and bassist Clay McCarty.The music is what you would expect from that early 1980s genre of pounding metal. But what is really cool about this band is you can just listen to all of the changes going on in the genre directly in their songs. There is the classic metal of the early 80s mixed in with the colossal symphonies of Metallica, the speed metal influences of those years and parts of the newly forming death metal. Warlock Texas is like a stem cell research project: so much of the many strands of metal all giving birth in one band. It is like they created a bunch of metal babies, let them go grow up, and now they are joining the ones they think turned out the best. Warlock Texas will be an interesting experience, one I think that will be thoroughly enjoyed most by all the middle-aged metal heads who crowd Rocklahoma for sometimes over a week. For us, we will really get to see what metal was like for a band that was there at the inception, and was experimenting with all of the new genres as they first were born. Warlock Texas will be more than a trip down memory lane, since they are writing new music, digging up the old, and putting new sounds to the emerging sounds of the early 80s.

MACH22

By Dan Adler

MACH22 is a Philadelphia based band that is presently running an indie-gogo campaign to fund the recording of their sophomore album. After spending a year touring in support of its first full-length album, Sweet Talk Intervention, MACH22 is ready to make some new music, and if they have anything in mind close to what they released last year in their first effort, this next album should be awesome. Sweet Talk Intervention has an outstanding variety of rock and roll, from the rollicking good time of “Go Ahead” to the bluesy, vocal-led “One Trick Pony,” the latter of which can be seen here:

Sweet Talk Intervention contains some amazing material, like “Constant Denier” and “Go Ahead,” but “Stone Rose” is by far the best. Sebastian LaBar plays incredibly addicting guitar work and Lamont Caldwell sings powerfully and clearly, with a fantastic tone. “Stone Rose” is itself a journey through some of the best of rock and roll’s roots.

Caldwell has clearly benefited from a life steeped in music tradition, which started at age six and continued through high school, a post-secondary music education, and experience touring as a multi-instrumentalist with bands from many genres. He has toured as a saxophonist, plays guitar and drums, and is the perfect front man for MACH22. This year marks MACH22’s second year on the Retrospect Stage and this year I will do my best to make it to their show, since I missed them last year. The music, heavy with tradition from 70s and 80s metal, has its own modern edge. For lovers of guitar work, there is a plethora of sounds, from powerful riffs to soaring solos, and all of it is good. The band is great at writing enticing introductions to songs and you are never let down when the sound breaks out into full speed. Drummer Damian MonteCarlo provides an excellent foundation and bassist Jaron Gulino has his moments of solo work in “I’m Just a Man.” The LP ends with a fantastic song, “Nevermind,” so whatever you do, stay through the end.

Dellacoma

By Dan AdlerWith a name like Dellacoma Rio, you simply have to be a rock musician. There really is no choice. Pick up a guitar, get some drumsticks, or start hitting the bass. For this Rio, there was no need for any of that, because he was gifted with a kick-ass voice and gives out as much energy on stage as any front-man around today. Dellacoma’s previous band, Sunset Riot, broke up a couple of years ago after a US tour, and his new band, simply Dellacoma, recently signed their first record contract with Shock Records. Their debut album, Something of Everything will be released in Australia and New Zealand April 10th, with US dates to follow.Dellacoma’s talent spreads through the entire lineup: the vocals are great, the guitar work is outstanding, and the drummer and bassist round it out with epic energy and musical skill. It is so much fun to hear a band let their guitarist just solo for a while. Watch this video from Tipitina’s in New Orleans this summer as Dellacoma plays “Pouring Rain.” Stick to it until somewhere around four minutes in when Art Struck is given the freedom to deliver what every metal head needs more of: serious guitar soloing. This is what metal is supposed to be.

There is a good video of Dellacoma’s visit to Rocklahoma last year on the Retrospect Stage inncluding two songs, “Mean Bone” and “Save Me From LA.” Being from LA, I am not sure what they want to be saved from, but still, the song is great and it is always fun to put down my great city.

Their website has news about the recent signing and the upcoming album, and there are great clips of the songs from their first EP, The Dead Will Rise. Every song is great, and I am really looking forward to their show on the Retrospect Stage. Of course, often the 1 to 2am time slot is a good time to work in a shower, but I will definitely not miss this band. As a sucker for great guitar work, this is a band to seriously check out.

Station

By Zoe Adler

New York City trio Station has received great acclaim for their debut EP Wired, released in 2013. Currently, they are recording their first-ever album.Their song, “More Than Enough,” has rocking, groovy live recordings. If you check out their Facebook page, there’s a link in the tap “MUSIC, VIDEOS…” that plays an awesome song with a catchy guitar riff. It doesn’t say which song it is. This will be their second time playing Rocklahoma. They will be playing alongside Tempt, whom they have toured with a few times. I look forward to seeing these guys electrify the stage at Rocklahoma.

Tempt

By Dan Adler

Remember the hair bands of the 1980’s?Well I sure do.I was a teenager in the late 70’s and early 80’s and can remember not just the hair, but the obligatory uniform of tight pants, crazy colors, and leopard skin everything.Tempt, a band out of New York City, has raided the nostalgia shop and certainly look the part. Musically, Tempt is spot on with that era, and if you are a fan of that time, and are not much into watching 67-year old stars play that song you heard for the 287 thousandth time, Tempt will be a fun event for you at Rocklahoma. Tempt has released a four-song EP, Under My Skin, and have toured extensively in the New York area, building a fan base and being recognized by a number of magazines for their modern take on the hair band.While their sound is very polished, and their songs are catchy, it is worth noting that they are incredibly young, being fronted by two 20-year olds.The lineup includes Zach Allen on lead vocals, Harrison Marcello on guitar, Nicholas Burrows on drums, and Zak Gross on bass. The title track off the EP is an outstanding song, one that you cannot help but enjoy.This is followed by “Use it or Lose It,” an anthem track that clearly will be their stadium-filling chant when they make it in the future.Can you see 25,000 fans screaming along, “Use it or Lose It?” I sure can. For those 50 and 60-somethings out there enjoying a weekend plus of live music, Tempt will put on a nostalgia show you cannot help but enjoy. The final song, “Time Won’t Heal,” shows the ability of the band to play a fine power ballad. Check out Tempt’s Reverbnation and enjoy the four tracks off the EP.

Also, the band’s website is full of great information and has links to a plethora of well-deserved reviews of their EP. And the band’s Facebook page has a great link to a live recording of one of their new songs, “Human Touch,” not featured on their EP.They look a little less retro on this video than on the website.

Project Terror

By Dan Adler

Are you upset that Rock on the Range got Judas Priest and Rocklahoma did not? I love the Rocklahoma lineup, but of all the bands that I listened to during my non-Black Sabbath moments (few and far between), Judas Priest was my favorite. Rocklahoma has found a relatively new band that delivers the power of Judas Priest in the sounds of a new band, and that is Pure Steel Record’s Project Terror. Formed in 2009 by Ronnie Stixx, this San Antonio band has released its debut CD, Conquistador after a quiet period, which included a name change and a few festival appearances. I can tell you that this new album really hits hard from the start. Fantastic guitar work and powerful vocals will make you think seriously about riding your Harley on to the Axis stage a la Rob Halford. I love the story of the new name, which I found in an old article. Project Terror is an old, 1970s sci-fi horror television show that played in the local area around San Antonio, Texas. Ronnie Stixx had always wanted to have a band by that name and gave up several years of building an audience for Blood Red Skies in order to fulfill this goal. For those of you into old TV, here is a link to the old television show weekly ending sequence.

Then watch this audio only video to get a sense of how much Ronnie Stixx appreciates this old TV show from his childhood (and of course find out how hard these guys rock).

No question Ronnie Stixx has some serious pipes and a talented band behind him, with powerful guitar work and a seriously driving drum beat.I also think Project Terror has an absolutely cool logo:

Their oldest song, “Day of the Jackal,” is great, with a well-done guitar solo and some fun time changes, complete with a real demonstration of Stixx’s vocal range.This will be a fun band, especially for those of us who like the old music we grew up to, but don’t want to hear the same songs again and again.For those of us who appreciate new bands putting their own spin on our music, Project Terror will be a great band to see.

Ivy Stone

By Zoe Adler

Ivy Stone is a ’70s and ‘80s throwback band from Raleigh, North Carolina, but with their own sense of style. Having recently released their EP, Déjà vu, they have been touring all around. In fact, they have played several shows with Lamp Shade Betty, the last band featured. The lead singer boasts great range and a killer scream, and their guitar work is fun. Despite their songwriting talent, they love to perform covers, which I am never a huge fan of. The best song off Déjà vu is probably “In the End.” You can also take a look at their original video for “She Keeps the Train Moving.”

Lamp Shade Betty

By Dan Adler

Researching Lamp Shade Betty has its challenges. Hailing from a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota, Lamp Shade Betty is made up of four guys with first names only. The band is basically a 1980s metal band that is updated for modern times. Heavily dependent on guitar solos that clearly have a genealogical connection to the blues, LSB has something for all metal heads to look forward to. Casey’s fast guitar work and ear for a great beat and groove. On the live video for “Wake Me Up” you can clearly see a band having a great time, with two guitarists who mesh very well together and a lead guitarist who is seriously skilled.They only have a couple of videos on their You Tube channel, the best of which is “Wake Me Up."

They also have a very nice acoustic song on You Tube, called "Dream About You."

The band also has three songs on Soundcloud, all very energetic and hard. The highlight of each is the way the guitars work together and the solos.With such a small amount of work available, it will be great to see this band in Oklahoma to see what is going on. They have a record coming out later this year, and there is a sneak peak on their website.

We the Ghost

By Dan Adler

We The Ghost is just one more example of the fact that Tulsa, Oklahoma, houses an amazingly active music scene. Sure, I live in Los Angeles, and there is A LOT happening here, even though some of my favorite bands avoid LA like some people avoid the measles vaccine (no, I am not wishing the measles on some of my favorite artists, but come on folks, is LA really that bad?), I sometimes want to get on a plane and head out to the T-Town Throw Down. Bands such as Nicnos and the incredibly fun Kick Tree show you just what is going on there, and We The Ghost is no exception. We The Ghost is very polished. They have fantastic, high quality videos, an example of which is "Sinking Suspicion" a pop rock song that is incredibly addicting.

"Letters to God" is sort of a mix of Linkin Park and Imagine Dragons, but with the most painful, heartfelt lyrics evidently written from personal experience. The song is a soulful rap-rock song that leaves you with an intense feeling--good if you don’t know the words, troubled if you do.

Another part of this band I love is that they actually wrote a song about the theme of my life, called “We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead," which is an insomniac's anthem. Although it is a bit too dance-y for my tastes, it just shows the variety this band is capable of with dual vocals and fun live shows. Their newest EP, The Kids Can’t Dance, was released in September 2014, and it has a beat. In the words of one song from the EP:"It's the new sound, don't call it what it's notMixed up with some Reggae, marinated in Hip HopBaked for fifteen minutes 'till it tastes like the new spotThen turn the oven low, let it simmer 'till it's Rock."I could not have explained the sound that well. We the Ghost have won more awards than is right for a band this young, but they do seem to deserve every one of them. I spent my time researching, and simply kept listening all afternoon. Looking forward to their slot at the axis stage.

Well Hung Heart

By Zoe Adler

Well Hung Heart is a genre-diverse band from Orange, CA, who formed in 2011. So far, they have released two albums: Young Enough to Know it All and Go Forth and Multiply.

Well Hung Heart has created this really cool web-based show called “Made in 48,” where WHH and a few special guests get together, write a song complete with lyrics, and film and post a video. All in 48 hours.

They aired their first “Made in 48” back in February 2013, and have been writing music this way ever since.

In the last two years I’ve been to Rocklahoma, WHH has played. I saw them my very first year, and remember being very impressed by their awesome feminine power.

Nicnōs

By Zoe Adler

I am now introducing to you one of the coolest bands on the Rocklahoma lineup… Nicnōs—a rock band influenced by everything from blues to folk to soul and featuring an awesomely prominent violinist. As a musician, I find Nicnōs particularly impressive because of their immense musicianship and songwriting skill. Nicnōs is from Central Oklahoma, another one of the local bands who will play the Axis Stage during midday or midnight. I highly suggest waking up/staying up to see Nicnōs because they will not disappoint. Last year at Rocklahoma, they were one of the highlights of the Axis Stage and one of the most musically diverse bands that played during the entire festival. They just played here in Los Angeles, and I just missed them! Gurrr…. Here is the YouTube video of Nicnōs’ song “Something You Should Know."

Check out their Facebook page and website.

Even the Dogs

By Zoe Adler

There are a few theories as to the name of this metal band from Tulsa, OK, a town right next to Pryor, where Rocklahoma takes place. One is that it Even the Dogs comes from the Bible: “‘Yes my Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table,’” (Matthew 15-27). The other possible theory is that they named their band after British author Jon McGregor’s third novel Even The Dogs, which focuses on drug addiction, homelessness, alcoholism, and dereliction. Regardless of where their name comes from, they are a good band. A metal band with fun guitar work and some ties to metalcore, they strike me as a band that will be fantastic live. Go to their ReverbNation page so you can listen to some of their music. There’s a video for their single “Down In Flames” from their 2013 EP They Will Never See It Coming, along with recordings of their songs.Check out their Facebook and MySpace pages, as well.

SONS

By Dan Adler

Just reading about SONS had me wondering what could possibly be in store for me. With influences running from Explosions in the Sky to Mute Math, the Deftones and Russian Circles, I was completely in the dark as to what the music could possibly sound like. What I found was a collection of very beautiful songs with interesting guitar work that really kept my interest. The lyrics of the songs have some real meaning; however, I did not give myself time to really dig deeply. There is a strong Christian influence to some of their songs, such as “Oh Come Emmanuel.” The ads, links, and suggested videos that pop up when watching SONS on YouTube often have religious themes. “Ghosts” is a Russian Circles-type song, but with vocals and more of a traditional song structure. The guitar work is very pretty and calming; it is a very beautiful song. A YouTube video of them performing the title track off their album Keep Quiet is the best example of the lovely haunting guitars that shows their post-rock influences.

My favorite song on the album is definitely “Is This is a Dry Season or Agnosticism?” My favorite band of the post rock variety is the short-lived A.Armada, and this song has some of the beautiful melodies of that Athens, Georgia, outfit. SONS has the talent to make it work even with lyrics. I am looking forward to seeing how SONS’ unique sound is welcomed in the hard rock world of Rocklahoma. However, there has been great joy in variety, especially on the Axis stage, including bands such as Jet West (Reggae) and The Chimpz (rap?), and Vilifi (Blues). This year will be wonderful in that regard, with the funky soul of Lovebettie and the post rock sounds of SONS. Check out SONS on Facebook! They have recordings of a bunch of their songs there.

A Course of Action

By Zoe Adler Southern rock band A Course of Action definitely ranks on my personal list of favorite small bands at Rocklahoma. You will definitely see me rocking out to these guys at the Axis Stage. ACOA has released one album, and are going to be releasing Treason in the next month or so. They just released their single called “Who We Are,” which is a gorgeous ballad-esque song featuring melodious vocals and soothing guitar. My personal favorite by ACOA is definitely “One Step Down,” which has a catchy melody and cool guitar opening. ACOA also is at a turning point in their career, having just signed to Star 1 Records this January. I’m excited to see where this record deal will take them.

Drek

By Zoe Adler

Hailing from Bonner Springs, Kansas, rap-rock group Drek is warming up for their third appearance at Rocklahoma. In 2013, they released their latest album, Drek Happens, and they might actually use the words “mother fucker” more than Heaven’s Basement, but that is up for discussion.

All their songs feature creative guitar openings, and most are followed with classic-style rap. My favorite song has to be “Choices,” because of its heavy metal nature and grungy guitar. Check out their website to listen to their music and watch their videos, including a live video of them playing Rocklahoma a few years ago.

﻿Lovebettie﻿

By Dan AdlerWant to know what makes Rocklahoma so amazing? Look at that lineup. What is the name of the very last band on the bill? Lovebettie. At most places that would be a band you would not necessarily get up early to see (unless of course you haven’t gone to bed yet). But at Rocklahoma? Even the last band on the bill kicks ass. Lovebettie, from Pittsburg, PA, is no stranger to being noticed. They were voted a Band to Watch by Rolling Stone and have won a number of awards for being the best band from Pittsburg. They have played South By Southwest, as well as Summerfest in Milwaukee and Buffalo Chip in Sturgis. Lovebettie calls themselves “pioneers of Swagger Rock,” and within a few songs you will totally understand the sentiment. After a while you’ll want to swagger around with attitude.

Start with “Red Roses,” a bluesy rock song that will get you up dancing:

Another great song by Lovebettie is “Monsters,” a totally different sound--much harder and heavier rock:

Every song on their 2011 release The Red Door is fantastic. There is a lot of variety, from ballad to hard-edged groove. And want some groove? Play the song “Not Quite Right” and I dare you to sit still in your chair.

Lovebettie released a new CD last year called Rise. Again they are right on target with a fantastic six-song EP. “Follow” is great rock and roll and “Downpour” really shows the power in the voice of lead singer Alexandra Naples. The band includes C.T. Fields on guitar, Larry Shotter on drums, and Nick Quinn on bass. From what I can tell, Lovebettie will probably play the Axis Stage before the main event inside begins. This means you have a reason to roll out of bed before three pm and go enjoy some fantastic rock and roll. One of my present favorite bands of all time is ViliFi, a band that tore up the Axis Stage back in 2013. Lovebettie is clearly going to do the same. Don’t miss out.

2014 Year in Review #2

So much great new music and shows in 2014, most of which is music that nobody has heard or seen because it’s not pop or hip-hop.I have my share of pop and hip-hop favorites (I’m embarrassed to say that my most listened-to song by far of the last couple of months has been Selena Gomez’s “What the Heart Wants.” Please pray for me), but I love the metal scene.No twerking for me.Give me a mosh pit and some head banging, and I’m one happy dude!

Best Discovery- Dig the Kid

I only attended one festival in 2014, but they are the best way to discover new music. Guest blogger Dan noted that Dead Sara at Aftershock was his 2014 discovery. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to enjoy Dead Sara that day because the sweltering heat had forced me to retire under the shade of a tree. However, I did see them later that year in a smaller venue and they kicked ass.I will always make it to their shows in the area. The best 2014 discovery for me was at Aftershock, and it was San Francisco Bay area trio Dig the Kid.They have shades of metal, but not too heavy; they show signs of pop, but not sugary.The bottom-line is that they rock and their sound crosses over and will make them successful.They consist of songwriter and guitarist Cory Todd, bassist Ian Lasater, and drummer Lisa Mongelli. On stage they change instruments and don’t miss a beat, allowing them and the audience to keep the energy level high.They are young, talented, attractive people with a great future ahead of them.Their single “Love” is featured in the clothier Bebe commercial.Due to a connection with Zoe Adler, I was able to see Bebe launch said commercial along with a Dig The Kid show.There was a lot of LOVE in the room after the show, and Lisa even gave me a hug.Yes, I will be DIGging THEse KIDs for a long time to come (read Zoe’s DoubleView on this website with Dig The Kid).

Best ReDiscovery- Rob Zombie

Rob Zombie at Aftershock blew me away. I didn’t expect to even be around for Rob Zombie, but their stage was next to Five Finger Death Punch and they started immediately after.I got so into the Rob Zombie show; I was dancing like a mental patient, and I--like a mental patient-- didn’t care.Head-banging, hard-driving muscle music and I even knew the lyrics.I’m looking forward to seeing these old-school masters again (don’t forget to read Zoe’s interview with Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 on this website).

Best Local Band- Blackmore

Guest blogger Dan has been on the Blackmore band wagon since day one.We saw them over a year ago, but they just didn’t do it for me.However, I’ve seen them many times since that day, and the growth of their stage presence and musicianship has been phenomenal.It has been an absolute pleasure to witness their rise, and I look forward to telling their future fans that I knew them when they were first starting out (check out this website for more Blackmore information).

Best Live Show- First Aid Kit

So many great shows at Aftershock: Black Stone Cherry, Seether, and Lacuna Coil were my top three of the festival. Jeremiah Red performed at the Constellation Room in Santa Ana; the music wasn’t that impressive, but what a fantastic show! There was a great mosh pit at a Rise Against San Diego show, and there was classic crowd surfing at a Menzingers show at the Roxy.However, the best live show that I saw in 2014 was not from a rock or metal band. It was from a Swedish folk duo:First Aid Kit.They performed in November at the Observatory in Santa Ana.First Aid Kit consists of the Soderberg sisters, Johanna (keyboard) and her younger sister Klara (guitar). They were backed by a drummer and a pedal steel guitarist.To say that the sisters sing and harmonize would be a gross injustice.You can look at a picture and see its beauty.You can take in all the purity that a mountain top has to offer.You can read a poem and allow it to touch your soul.All of that is what the music of these sisters has done for me. If you can’t see them live, then listen to their records (Stay Gold is their latest and best).Sometimes you need to come down from the explosiveness of metal.These girls are my mountain top.

Best Album- AC/DC's Rock or Bust

How do you come up with a best album?Black Stone Cherry’s Magic Mountain is today’s Lynyrd Skynyrd.Affiance’s Blackout is the best metalcore album of their career.Seether’s Isolate and Medicate is a masterpiece that demonstrates how a band can progress and still keep to their roots.As you’ve read my Best Live Show piece, you know how I feel about First Aid Kit’s Stay Gold.With all that, I’m going to go old school with my Best Album of 2014:AC/DC’s Rock or Bust.With AC/DC you know what you are going to get and they always deliver. There are no deep discussions about love and loss, or political agendas.There are just simple “party hard” lyrics and power chord guitar riffs that bring head banging, fist pumping heavy metal to a peak, or right back to the early ‘80s.This is and has always been my favorite metal band.This album keeps them right there where they belong. RIGHT ON TOP.Those are some of this guest blogger’s thoughts regarding the 2014 metal (and more) scene.I am so looking forward to Aftershock 2015, and so many other shows to accompany new album releases by All That Remains, Halestorm, and 10 Years, just to name a few.

2014 was a great year for music, filled with excellent albums and a plethora of great bands. I saw lots of live music, and met very cool musicians. Here is my take on what happened this year:

Best Live Show

La Dispute still puts on the best live show, without a doubt. I saw them three times this year, and they never disappointed. They played their best show at the El Rey Theater, which took place a couple of days after their FYF show in Los Angeles. This show rocked because they stayed away from some of their biggest hits (like “Said the King to the River”), and played songs I have not heard live before, (like “Damaged Goods”). Sure I have been to shows where everyone in the audience sings along with every word of every song. But have you ever read La Dispute lyrics? They are epic poems with deep, heartfelt meaning. Learning the words takes time, patience and a real commitment, and La Dispute fans are committed. I love listening to La Dispute on car rides, but I crave their live shows. I can never get enough of them.

Best Album

There were a whole lot of great albums this year. Blackout by Affiance was heavy, hard, and like all things Affiance, full of meaning and intelligence. Seether released what I consider to be their best album yet, Isolate and Medicate. This album, from my view, deals with the struggles of addiction and the challenges of staying clean. While it may not be dedicated solely to that, almost every song could be construed that way. In addition to meaningful lyrics, the songs themselves are the best Seether has ever put together (my favorites are “See You At The Bottom,” “Weak,” and “Keep The Dogs At Bay”). I can listen to Seether all day long and never get bored. They have released a lot of music and have been together a long time and it is wild that they could come together and top everything they have ever done before. Despite these great albums, the number one album of the year is definitely Nothing More’s self-titled album, which tops any other album released in the last few years. The music is invigorating, inspiring, and addictive, and the lyrics are beyond intelligent. They are the manifestation of years of experiences dealing with loss, struggling to survive, and meeting people from all walks of life. “Jenny” is an incredible song about a young woman who continues to weigh down others by her inability to stay off of drugs. “The Matthew Effect” provides searing commentary on today’s well-off young people raised by parents who live through their childrens’ successes. “God Went North” discusses the loss of a mother to a horrible cancer that devastates its victim. Nothing More’s live show is also ecstatic. Full of incredible energy and life, with a three-person bass solo and a full-band drum solo, Nothing More released the best album of the year and travels and performs the music in a way that leaves you speechless. I have seen them several times this year, and it never gets old.

Best Discovery

For me, attending festivals is a great way to discover small bands, and up-and-coming talent. This year, my great discovery was Dead Sara at Aftershock. Wow. Emily Armstrong is such an amazing singer. Credited by Grace Slick as being the best singer in rock and roll last year, this band boasts amazing talent and writes incredible music. Their self-titled CD is a couple years old, and they will be releasing a new album in just a few weeks. I learned about the band while researching the Aftershock line up, which, by the way, was so chock full of talent, it was shocking (bad pun time). Dead Sara has some great songs on it, including “The Weatherman,” “Timed Blues,” and “Lemon Scent,” but the truth is every song is great. She can belt out killer melodies, she can scream, and she can sing an amazing ballad. Watch “Snow in Los Angeles” on YouTube sometime. Amazing. The great news is that I’ve heard a lot of their new stuff at a local show a while back, and it sounds fantastic.

Best Local Band

Blackmore, a progressive metal outfit from Los Angeles, released their first EP, Law of Time, this year, and it completely rocks. Made up of four Armenian Americans and a Filipino American, Blackmore offers fantastic music played by five guys with an amazing amount of musical talent and know-how. Many of them are music majors, and singer Adrian Barrios has an awesome stage presence, a fantastic voice, and a talented graphic designer as well. Blackmore is an LA band that you will hear from in the future. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to see them in local venues playing in front of friends. I hope when they do make it, they will still remember me.

Best Unsigned Band

Hailing from the high schools of Long Beach, Better Heroes is a band that I am sure you have never heard of, but you really need to. I have been to a lot of shows in the past three years, and I can say that Better Heroes is a better band than most of the opening bands I have seen this year. Their CD, POW!, has several songs that should be number one hits on the radio. Singer Hunter Allen has a fantastic and unique voice, and the band members are all very skilled. The song “Down and Out” is an addictively beautiful song with just the right amount of edge. For an incredibly young band, their stage presence is great.

The WTF Award

My WTF Award of the year is… Why isn’t Affiance a top-drawing band in the metalcore circuit? I just do not get it. They are way more talented than many of the bands that have really made it. Their lyrics are fantastic, Dennis Tvrdik’s voice is phenomenal, and the guitar work is stellar. I am baffled how and why this band toils away in small venues.

Greatest Combination

I have seen a lot of great pop-punk bands out there, most notably Young Guns, but Pop-Metalcore? Yes, it exists, and the vanguard of this genre is definitely Chunk! No Captain Chunk! This band is fun, hardcore and lively. And they are French. I just for some reason cannot get my mind around French Pop-Metalcore—pass the brie across the circle pit. Their album, Pardon My French, is absolutely awesome! And there are a LOT of great bad words. I love playing the start of Track 6 when people sit down in my car.

Why I loved going to Warped Tour this year

The Skariginals – lively ska played by guys having a great time. Chase Walker Band – uber talented young blues guitarist. Going to be famous someday. Go see him now. Beebs and Her Money Makers – Not sure how to explain this, but joining heavily tattooed metalcore fans dancing to Beebs is perhaps one of the highlights of Warped. Their music is as fun as it gets.

Dan Adler was raised in Southern California to a mom and dad, one of whom appreciated Creedence and left wing anti-war politics. By the teenage years, Dan became obsessed with Black Sabbath, listening to the same seven albums repeatedly for 5 years. During this time, his favorite concert experience was seeing Metallica open for a bunch of bands that no longer exist and winning the 1st ever Santa Cruz Air Guitar contest. After several years in Africa listening and dancing to Chimurenga music, Dan returned to have the two best children in the world, one of whom spends a lot of time at concerts with him. What a lucky dad!

Mount Salem

They say there is nothing that is truly new anymore. Some may see that as sad, but what it does allow is the ability to perfect what is already there. Mount Salem has done exactly that. While relying heavily on Black Sabbath for their sound, Mount Salem has quite literally become a new, modern, and even better version of the veritable originators of heavy metal. Ozzy, Tony—meet your standard bearer of the future: Mount Salem, master of psychedelic doom metal. I have not been this excited about a new band since I explored the lyrics of Tim McIlrath or the dynamism of the unsigned, soon to be well-known band Blackmore, from LA. I cannot stop playing this album and my friends and family have noticed the obsession. While drugs and counseling have not yet been prescribed, I am sure they are a bit worried that I may have reverted to my teenage years and will waste a decade listening to the same songs over and over. Mount Salem has released the eight-song CD Endless and if there is a better release this year I certainly have not heard it. Think Black Sabbath with the most wonderful, hypnotizing female voice. Think Evanescence, only stripped of the engineering and the polish. What you have is straight, honest, deep heavy metal. When you listen to this album you cannot help but wonder how this could be a first release. From the first song, “Good Times,” to the last, “The End,” this EP delivers awesome for forty-three straight minutes, not one moment of which I am not in awe. What I love about this band is the ability to drag us through the sludge of slow paced, Sabbath-esque chords, and then wind us up into a speedy gallop followed yet again by pounding guitars and haunting female singing that fits with the music so well you wonder whether Tony, Geezer, and Bill had ever thought about Grace Slick as a lead singer. The arrangements are complex, interesting, and addicting. Finding a favorite song on this album would be like Tiger Woods identifying his favorite girlfriend…there is just too much material to work with. I guess I have to start with “Full Moon,” which is an absolute romp through the best there is to offer of this genre. It is followed by “Mescaline I,” a deeply moving and beautiful instrumental piece that I wished lasted two hours and forty-four minutes rather than two minutes and forty-four seconds. Every time it ends I am sad, but then comes “Mescaline II,” and I am relieved. The album ends with two amazing pieces: “Hysteria” and “The End.” I find myself listening to this section of the CD over and over again; I don’t do this because it is better than the first half, but because I cannot stop listening to “Mescaline I,” and so I start at Full Moon, and just cannot turn it off. I do not want to sell the first three songs short…they are amazing pieces of work, but sometimes I only have 20 minutes..and I need my Mescaline. (Hmmm…did I say that?) Mount Salem has announced a West Coast tour in May and you would be insane to miss this show. If this band is even a fraction of their studio sound while live, they will be one of the highlights of 2014 and beyond. If you have even the smallest interest in Sabbath, The Sword, or Electric Wizard, you have to hear Mount Salem. But be forewarned….Endless has been known to cause addicting behavior; and so far there is no known cure.

Dan Adler was raised in Southern California to a mom and dad, one of whom appreciated Creedence and left wing anti-war politics. By the teenage years, Dan became obsessed with Black Sabbath, listening to the same seven albums repeatedly for 5 years. During this time, his favorite concert experience was seeing Metallica open for a bunch of bands that no longer exist and winning the 1st ever Santa Cruz Air Guitar contest. After several years in Africa listening and dancing to Chimurenga music, Dan returned to have the two best children in the world, one of whom spends a lot of time at concerts with him. What a lucky dad!

Privet Earth

I have been listening to this band, scavenging through their few YouTube videos, trying as hard as I could to get a feel for them before I wrote this review. I was speaking to someone a few days ago about music and the industry and whatnot when this name came up that I’d never heard of, and I knew I had to look them up. I honestly don’t know what I was expecting, but it was definitely not this. After some research, it became apparent that the whole band was based around the lead singer, a Russian by the name of Ivan Smirnov. He was a prodigy by the looks of it, composing music from the young age of eight and beyond. His voice is so unique and I simply cannot unearth the accurate terminology to communicate it, but I feel this should help: Have any of you ever heard the vocalist of Volbeat? If you have, then you know for a fact that his voice is among the oddest ever to be heard. Despite this fact, there is a quality of sound that he produces that draws you in instead of repelling you. Smirnov has that same quality, although their voices are completely different. It is a very unusual occasion that I review pop bands (I believe the only other time I have done so was a requested review of The Summer Set), but this is indeed one such occasion. Yes, Privet Earth is pop, but even if you scorn pop music, you should not turn your back on this band just yet. This is something different, something special, and something that stands out because it doesn’t sound like everyone else. Quite honestly, half the time I listen to Privet Earth I cannot stand them, but the other half of the time I actually rather enjoy them. Even if they had a mainstream vocalist, some differences could still be made between Privet Earth and your average pop band. For instance, there are guitar solos, however brief they may be. Additionally, the drums—although not deeply intense—add a rock-ish sound that isn’t commonly heard in pop music. They have a more edgy, Stars in Stereo-esque style of pop music. Don’t get me wrong, they still have the traditional pop aspects (constantly upbeat, oftentimes lacking of a bass line, etc.); they just don’t allow that to dominate their sound. I can’t say this is a band where I would buy all their music or stand in line for hours just to purchase a concert ticket, but they are definitely something special. Privet Earth is not a band to be ignored; they have something to offer to the music world.

Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future.

Flogging Molly

This awesome Celtic Punk band has seven members:Dave KingBridget ReganDennis CaseyNathan MaxwellBob SchmidtGeorge SchwindtMatt HensleyThey have released 5 albums:SwaggerDrunken LullabiesWithin A Mile Of HomeFloatSpeed Of Darkness

Flogging Molly, if you've never heard their music, has a very unique sound. I often picture a bunch of Irish dancers in kilts...headbanging. Their music not only has the traditional rock 'n' roll instrumentation, but also features the fiddle, tin whistle, mandolin, banjo, and accordion. What's so fun about Flogging Molly is that it truly IS punk rock, but it's also quite Celtic. When I listen to the music I just want to dance the jig to their punk-beat drum. Flogging Molly is...FUN! It's just a really fun band to listen to and it truly brightens a day with the upbeatedness of it all.Be sure to check out their website!

Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future.

The vocals are strange, but in a really good way. It has this rich tone with a slight edge to it that makes it so interesting to listen to. It's really enjoyable to listen to. Also, the lead guitarist, just...WOW. So amazing. Everything about this band is very fun, and skilled. You listen to it, and you just wanna get up and jump around the room and headbang to your killer air-guitar skills (which by the way could be very dangerous*).

Looking for a different sound? Looking for some serious rock? This is the band for you! They managed to give a Johnny Cash cover justice, which in and of itself is an accomplishment.This is an awesome band! Check out Volbeat's Official Website!*There once was a college kid who won a Darwin Award for jumping up and down on his bed while air-guitaring and managed to accidently jump out the window where he died upon impact, so be careful.

Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future.

Black Veil Brides

This band is one of my personal favourites, and after only a few days, I considered rearranging my favourites list to accommodate a higher spot for them. However, (as my dad will agree), I am a lazy teenager and won't do anything except sit on the couch and look at people's great fake-lives they're leading on twitter. It's really fascinating, if you don't know. It's like, do you really have nothing better to do than make a fake email so you can have a twitter under a different name so you can complain about your life to people who honestly couldn't care less? Ok, enough with that, I'm getting off track.

Black Veil Brides has 5 members who I guarantee are men, they just like to disguise it with make-up **please note that many of these names are NICKNAMES**:Andy BiersackJake PittsAsh PurdyJinxxChristian "CC" Coma

We Stitch These Wounds, written in 2010, which was my first introduction to Black Veil Brides. After a thorough search of Amoeba Records I discovered a used copy of this album and despite the fact that it was their first album, I purchased it earnestly (I had no problems with it since it was my dad's money). We took a tour of Hollywood to stop by the Palladium and the House Of Blues to preorder tickets, we stationed ourselves at a Starbucks and poured over the lyric book. Within minutes we discovered a lump of 24 karat gold, "Sweet Blasphemy." This song ripped up the church with a gorgeous melody and soothing vocals, something you just can't go wrong with. We hopped back in the car for our long drive back home and my parents agreed to playing a few songs from the album. We ended up listening to the whole thing. The songs that really stood out to me were "Knives and Pens," "The Mortician's Daughter," and "Beautiful Remains." I found that this album (and not any of the others) sounded much like Affiance in the songs's structure and in the drum beats. This was a good first work as a band, but not their best.I consider Set The World On Fire to be BVB's transition period as a band, which took place as they settled into their own personal style as individuals in the band as well as a group as a whole. This album did result in two songs,: "Fallen Angels" and "Rebel Love Song.", the first of which I cannot get out of my head.Their newest release which was first available for illegal downloading on Halloween of 2012 but was officially released in early January 2013 is what I consider to be BVB's best work yet as a band. This album comes with the very prestigious title of Wretched And Divine: The Story Of The Wild Ones. This album in part was probably so successful because, as Biersack stated in an interview with Loudwire that "on any given day somebody could help out a homeless person and cuss out somebody that cut them off in traffic and I think that everybody has that inside them, it’s just how you live that balance – so I think everbody is ‘Wretched and Divine.’ Our band also, we’re a very polarizing band in opinion – people either tend to love us or hate us, there’s not really anything in between." When you first listen to this album, the F.E.A.R. Transmissions can spook you out or give you the falsified idea that this was a concept album, but in reality, BVB was writing an album with the intent to have fun and really explore, and the voice of F.E.A.R. was supposed to portray the "bad guy" in life as well as stitch together the many ideas that the album had put out there. The artwork for this album is very experimental and creative, showing images of humanoids in positions of agony, stone statues, and a skull and cross bones in tar. The music is much better, with creative guitar solos and a more unified sound. The album itself really was a huge step forward for the band with the hit single "In The End," along with the extremely popular songs...well I was going to name them all, but then I looked at the track listing and I realized all of them were extremely popular. This album is the one worth checking out.BVB is a band with questionable appearance and a fan base leaning towards teenage girls, but that doesn't mean their music isn't absolutely amazing, because it really is. I could listen to this band all day and night, but sadly I can't, so I listen to it as much as possible to make up for all the time I'm missing!

Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future.

VIZAMYSTIC KNIGHTS OF THE OINGO BOINGO

Dan, a staff writer, chose bands and songs that make you think about their lyrics, and how they conflict or conform to your own beliefs and ideas, be it based in political or relationship realms. I truly understand his thoughts as I can sit here and recite lyrics in my head that bring tears to my eyes (John Prine – “Hello In There” – aging or Peter Gabriel – “Don’t Give Up” –suicide). However, sometimes the last thing I want to do is think when I’m listening to music. I just want to be taken away from the everyday struggles of life. I want to have FUN! That’s where the balafon and oud come into play. I’m cheating with my band of the week, because I’m choosing two bands of the week. One is modern and is constantly touring. They are named VIZA. The other has disbanded with no chance of a reunion as most of the members suffer from hearing lost and have no desire to make it worse with even one more concert. However, in the 80’s I was lucky enough to see this band, Oingo Boingo, live at least a half dozen times.

Their Halloween shows are legendary. Every concert was an exhilarating high. It was on your feet fun from the first notes of the balafon from “Grey Matter” to the last shouts of “Goodbye Goodbye.”

Danny Elfman was the lead singer, composer, and writer of their songs. He no longer needs the band. He is a four time Oscar nominated composer for such films as “Batman” and “Edward Scissorhands.” He is also the man responsible for “The Simpsons” television theme song. Additionally, he was the singing voice for Jack Skellington in “The Nightmare before Christmas.” He also plays the balafon, which is an African xylophone type instrument.

They had eight members in the band, playing drums, guitars, keyboards, along with a three-piece horn section. Their recordings generate some of the experience of a live show, but after hearing their music you can imagine it live and feel the excitement. I love all their albums, but my favorite and the one that best demonstrates their talents is 1982’s “Nothing to Fear.”

There is the silliness to songs like “Reptiles and Samurai” and “Wild Sex in the Working Class.” “Grey Matter” and “Nothing to Fear” are more serious works but don’t lose the tone of the album’s playful edge. These are not records that spawn deep discussions. This music gets you off your feet and signing along with the band. Once they disbanded, I believed I would never again experience a live show that produced such an entertaining, dance-filled fun time. Then I was introduced to the oud.

Along with the oud, the band incorporates guitars, bass, drums, and a percussionist to create a very distinctive blend of music. Like Oingo Boingo they are from Los Angeles, California. And like Oingo Boingo, they are FUN!

They have a very diverse group of musicians in their band. Their social backgrounds have a heavy influence of Armenian and Greek. The drummer is Hispanic. They have fused all these styles and experiences to create something real special and unique. Nobody sound like them. My favorite album is 2010’s “Made in Chernobyl.”

The lyrics can be thought of as just nonsense at first listen, but if you try you can find deeper meaning to the words. However, with VIZA, I’m not looking for hidden messages or spiritual guidence. I’m too busy dancing, smiling and having a good time.Eleven songs and not one you would want to skip in the bunch. If you only buy one album this year. Please buy this one. If you already have this album, and want something else to keep your feet moving, then check out old Oingo Boingo. They have a couple of greatest hits compilations. These two bands are all about the FUN! They received equal time in my play lists.

BETWEEN THE BURIED & ME

BTB&M is a progressive metal/technical death metal/math metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina that formed in 2000. The members of BTB&M are:Tommy Giles RogersPaul WaggonerDustie WaringDan BriggsBlake RichardsonThey have 6 studio albums:

Between the Buried and MeThe Silent CircusAlaskaColorsThe Great MisdirectThe Parallax II: Future Sequence

and 1 EP:The Parallax: Hypersleep Diologues BTB&M has a very unique way of using musicality to their advantage. Throughout their music, you can her many different time signatures not usually used in heavy metal music, such as 7/8, 12/4, etc.

I am--one could say--a screamo lover. So BTB&M is perfect for me. However, their background music is quite interesting, so it's definitely worth looking into even if you don't like screamo.

Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future.